Big Sean Recalls Nearly Getting Eminem To Perform Over A J Dilla Beat With Him

Big Sean says he was nearly able to convince Eminem to rap with him over a J Dilla beat for his 2020 album Detroit 2. Speaking about his relationship with the legendary rapper during a new cover story for Essence, Sean explained how it nearly came together, but Em preferred another production on his project instead.

“It reminded me of an old Eminem,” Sean said of the beat. “And when I sent it to Em, he was like, ‘Man, I like the Dilla beat, for sure. I get it.’” Despite being a fan of the production, Eminem preferred to lend his talents to the beat for the track, “Friday Night Cypher," alongside several other hometown artists. Tee Grizzley, Kash Doll, Cash Kidd, Payroll, 42 Dugg, Boldy James, Drego, Sada Baby, and Royce Da 5’9″ were all among them.

Read More: Eminem Apparently Called Big Sean "One Of The Most Dangerous Emcees"

It's not the first time Eminem has reportedly passed on a J Dilla beat. D12’s Denaun Porter previously revealed on Paul Rosenberg's Paul Pod in 2022 that Eminem originally had the beat for A Tribe Called Quest‘s “Get a Hold.” He explained at the time: "He had the illest song to that beat. Em had that beat before Tribe and them had it. Proof gave it to him. It was like, ‘Yo, I gotta get some Dilla beats.' I don’t know if he recorded it, but he wrote it because I remember him writing it and I remember the song being ill as hell […] The concept he had to it was crazy."

Elsewhere in Sean's interview with Essence, he revealed he wants to work on a movie with James Gunn and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. “I know that when it comes to acting and just anything I do, I want to really concentrate and focus on it,” he said. “So when that time comes, if it’s right, then it’s right.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Big Sean on HotNewHipHop.

Read More: Eminem "The Biggest Rapper Of All Time," Big Sean Says

[Via]